Patent GB-184526-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in methods and apparatus for steering navigable vessels
IPC: B64C17/02
Filed: 1921-03-29
Abstract: 184,526. Nicolson, A. M. March 29, 1921. Steering-gear ; submarine vessels, special apparatus for steering.-Navigable vessels are fitted with one or more masses such as fly-wheels independent of the ordinary propelling-mechanism and adapted to be rotated in the plane in which it is desired to steer the vessel. The steering is accomplished by accelerating or decelerating the rotating masses or by accelerating the masses from rest. An ordinary rudder may be fitted for counteracting the effect of restoring the masses to their original condition after the turning of the vessel has been accomplished. Fig. 1 shows a ship 1 fitted with a number of pairs of oppositely rotating fly-wlieels 10, 11 driven by belt gearing from motors 14, 14'. Each fly-wheel is provided with a pair of Westinghouse air brakes 25 supplied by air connections 39 and operating pivoted shoes 24. In an arrangement for a submarine, a number of pairs of fly-wheels rotating in a vertical plane are also provided, the flywheels of a pair rotating in opposite directions. Fig. 4 shows the circuit connections for such an arrangement in which the driving and braking are accomplished electrically. The fly-wheels are driven by shunt motors supplied with current by a generator 80. To retard any particular pair such as 70, 74 which will be rotated in the same direction in the same plane, the supply switch 83 is cut out and the switch 89 is placed on contacts 110, 111. The motor 70 then functions as a generator and reverses the direction of the current in the field winding 74<1> of the motor 74, thus braking the fly-wheels. The variable resistance 113 is fitted in series with the field 74<1> for regulating the braking effect. Fig. 5 shows an adaptation particularly for aeroplanes. Oppositely rotating fly-wheels 139, 140 are mounted in a frame 127 which is mounted in the framework 125, 126 of the aeroplane. The fly-wheels are brought into the plane in which the aeroplane is to be steered by operation of the handle 130. Either fly-wheel may be braked by shortcircuiting its motor through an adjustable resistance. The fly-wheels are hollow and may be filled with liquid. The liquid may be removed by means of a cock 146 and vanes 148 may be fitted for impeding its motion. In another arrangement each of a pair of fly-wheels arranged in the same horizontal plane are provided with vertical shafts each of which is fitted with two turbines arranged tandem fashion, the upper turbines rotating in opposite direction to the lower ones. The flywheels may be braked by cutting off steam from the driving pair of turbines and supplying steam to the other pair. A plurality of such sets may be provided. In the arrangement shown in Fig. 9, turbines 17<a>, 18a of the Tesla bladeless type drive fly-wheels 10<a>, 11<a>. The turbines are rotated in one direction or the other according to position of the control cock 20<a> which admits steam either to pipes 21<a>, 22<a> or pipes 23<a>, 24<a>. A common exhaust pipe 27<a> is provided. The fly-wheels may be situated aft of the longitudinal centre of the vessel so as to cause the vessel to bank towards the centre of curvature of its path when it is being steered. The total weight of the fly-wheels need not exceed one per cent of the total weight of the vessel.